. >>> pope benedict xvi is scheduled to resign from the papacy on february 28th. the italian moda is reporting a whirlwind of controversy around his resignation. >> reporter: pope benedict xvi praying with cardinals on the last day of religious services. outside that spiritual haven, a storm is brewing. the vatican is lashing out at the italian media for a string of what they call, quote, defamatory falsified reports. >> it's deplorable that as we draw closer to the time of the beginning of the conclave and the cardinal electors will be held in conscience and before god to freely indicate their choice that there be a widespread distribution of often unverified, unverifiable or completely false news stories. >> reporter: italian newspapers in recent days suggested a secret docier prepared for the pope by three cardinals who investigated leaked documents in 2012. the report alleges a series of scandals involving sex, money, and power and suggesting a, quote, shadowy gay lobby in the vatican. -- vatican. there is speculation the contents is what caused pope benedict